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As he made his way at La Santé prison on Tuesday, the former French leader shared a declaration overflowing with resistance via social media, stating, "This isn't a former president of the nation entering prison this morning, it's an innocent man." A court of appeal will in time give its view the truthfulness of his claim. Yet sadly for the ex-president, the turmoil and impact of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

France's leader during the 2007-2012 term, the former president was convicted of criminal conspiracy to acquire illicit campaign funds from the administration of the deceased Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the first former leader of an EU country to enter prison, and the earliest French head of state since the disgraced head of wartime France, the Vichy leader. Within a nation where the elected president enjoys a quasi-monarchical status, this week's remarkable event was a historic occasion.

Public Trust and Legal Accountability

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has declined drastically to the extent where warning signs are evident, it was also a instructive example that the law applies to all. According to a survey published on Tuesday, over 65% of those surveyed indicated that they believed a majority of politicians were dishonest, and nearly nine out of 10 said that the majority behaved predominantly out of self-interest. When convicting the former president and directing that his incarceration should begin without delay, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, said that she considered both the exceptionally grave nature of the crimes and the fact that they were "potentially erode the people's faith."

Legal Challenges

Such reflections might be seen as ordinary, particularly since that the ex-president has previously been sentenced in distinct bribery proceedings. But the legal proceedings and its consequences have troublingly exposed the degree to which across the country, as in various states, the legal system is jeopardized by a newly fashionable contempt for the judiciary and the effort to control of the popular view.

In Trumpian fashion, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a courtroom scheme and ideological revenge. Subsequent to the decision in September, the former president publicly criticized his punishment as invalid and censured the "hostility" with "no limits" that supposedly drove it. While prominent officials and backers from the traditional and radical have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has received various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Encouragingly, the citizens does not appear to be buying it. A post-verdict poll found comfortable majorities endorsing both the conduct of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his conviction. However the turmoil, and the obvious try to undermine the reputation of the judicial system, was very likely merely a dress rehearsal. Next year, the National Rally figure's appeal against a guilty verdict for diversion of electoral finances will be heard. Should she lose it, the political candidate will be disqualified from running in the upcoming election.

Coming Consequences

Across a fragmented and doubtful society, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to navigate. Mr Sarkozy could still be freed prior to his appeal hearing, following a request by his attorneys. But the reckless and unfounded criticisms on the court system throughout his proceedings have created a negative standard.